Topline
Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-Italian creator who is the most-followed person on TikTok, left the United States over the weekend after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities detained him as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.
Lame at the Met Gala in New York on May 5. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met … More
Key Facts
Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, a Department of Homeland Security official told Forbes, for “overstaying the terms of his visa.”
Lame was granted voluntary departure, which allows immigrants to avoid a deportation order, and has since left the United States, the DHS official said, though they did not specify where Lame went.
Lame was born in Senegal and moved to Turin, Italy, with his family as an infant, and he is an Italian citizen, according to DHS.
It’s unclear whether Lame returned to Italy or went elsewhere, though he posted a picture to his Instagram story on Monday with the location tagged as São Paulo, Brazil.
Who Is Khaby Lame?
Lame is the most-followed person on TikTok, with more than 162 million followers. He boasts large followings elsewhere, including 80 million Instagram followers and 12.5 million YouTube subscribers. Lame rose to fame as a TikTok creator after he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he began posting content mocking absurd “life hack” videos and other comedic bits. He has held the title of most-followed TikTok user since June 2022, when he surpassed creator and dancer Charli D’Amelio. Weeks before being detained, Lame attended the Met Gala in New York.
Tangent
Lame’s detainment comes amid growing protests targeting ICE across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, where protests broke out over the weekend after authorities detained dozens of immigrants. Trump has clashed with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over his decision to send National Guard troops to quell protests against officials’ wishes. National Guard troops have already arrived in the city, and Trump has ordered hundreds of Marines to the city, which could reportedly arrive as soon as Tuesday. Officials and some legal scholars have challenged Trump’s authority to mobilize the National Guard, though Trump reportedly said in a memo he had invoked Title 10, which permits the president to call on the National Guard if the U.S. is “invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation” or if “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” Since protests broke out in Los Angeles, more demonstrations have taken place in cities including New York, Dallas and Atlanta.
How Much Does Khaby Lame Earn?
Lame is one of the highest-paid social media creators, according to Forbes estimates. In 2024, Lame ranked tenth on Forbes’ top creators list with estimated earnings of $20 million, achieved through his large social media following and brand deals with Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Arts and Culture list in 2022.
Further Reading
From TikToker Khaby Lame To Fashion’s Future: Meet The Forbes Under 30 Europe Members Transforming Art & Culture (Forbes)
Top Creators 2024 (Forbes)
Los Angeles Protests Live Updates: Trump Claims City ‘Would Be Burning’ Unless Troops Deployed (Forbes)
